And What a Year it Was...

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As that great band from Chicago sang some years ago, it's Only The Beginning.

Xmas Gift

My pal C made these for me for xmas from swarovski crystals and sterling silver. They're unmistakably preppy pink and green but they have another style that I can't completely put my finger on. Goth? Romantic? I don't know what it is but I do know these are me to a T. Anyone who's been reading Preppycrat regularly has probably figured out when I do mention my own personal style, there are undertones to the preppy. Maybe it has to do with being a brunette with fair skin, a bit of goth can be flattering when you're a brunette. Maybe it's the 80s New Wave influence and color set against a black backdrop in clothes, shoes and jewelry - a look I always was complimented on even when the colors were the most vivid reds, jades, royal blues. Maybe it's that conversation I had with friends in NYC a few years back where we mused over the thought of a bermuda bag made out of black rubber and snapping to a metal frame instead of buttoning to a wood frame. Maybe it's all of these and more - sometimes what we wear is our life story. Anyway I'm wearing the earrings now and loving them, and thinking of the creative, cool person who made them for me. xoxoxo's to you, C!

But What Will the Bidens Wear?

There has been alot of happy speculation in the blogosphere about what the Obamas will wear on Inauguration Day and to the balls later that night. The Preppy Princess has been closely following what the Obamas and their daughters might be wearing on the big day and night and she has links to that eye candy that is the WWD slideshow of potential looks for President Elect and Mrs. Obama and their daughters. No doubt all of them will look great - all four of them wear clothes well.

I'm curious though about that other couple the day will be honoring - the Vice President Elect and Dr. Biden. It's pretty obvious the Vice President elect cares about dressing well and judging from the article from the November 2008 edition of Vogue, Dr. Biden likes clothes as well. Though I wish I knew both of them personally, I don't, but I think it's safe to say she is probably looking forward to choosing a gown for the inaugural balls and will want one that's fashionable but ladylike and flattering - hey, if I ran 5 miles daily, I'd want to show off my figure too.

I'm guessing the Veep elect will wear a business suit with a blue tie, a combo he's been wearing quite a bit of lately and that works for him, then at the balls, a traditional tuxedo. I'm thinking his wife might be interested in looks similar to these:



This Badgley Mischka is a gorgeous color and unfussy, elegant style.



Ah, red. And the interesting thing about this gown is it also skims the body but the sleeves make it ladylike, a little more "serious" and less Hollywood. Not that Hollywood is a bad place but the Inaugrual is not the Oscars.

Both lovely choices, but then I saw this from a designer called Helen Morley:



And thought that this would be the look I'd love to see Dr. Biden wear. When I went to the Helen Morley website and saw a simpler version of the gown above with a lace bolero - I wish I could have uploaded the pic but dratted Flashplayer kept me from doing so - I was convinced all the more. Her designs are beautiful without being froufrou, grown up without being dowdy or sack like. And the shapes are simple enough that anyone who's preppy at heart would feel great in them. I would love to see Dr. Biden in a gown from this designer, and for more people to get to know Helen Morley's clothes.

He Went to Jared

Seriously. Here's an excerpt from the latest Communications Workers of America update:

A leading economist who has been a tireless advocate for working families and unions has been appointed by Vice President-elect Joe Biden as his chief economist and economic policy advisor.

Jared Bernstein had been at the Economic Policy Institute for 16 years, reporting and analyzing a wide range of economic developments and their affect on America's middle class and workers.

Bernstein frequently slammed Bush economic policies in articles posted on popular blogs that include Huffington Post and Daily Kos. During the campaign he wrote about why John McCain's wealth and his attitude toward it matters:

"I don't care how much money our president has (though the seven homes thing really does seem beyond the pale given today's housing climate). But I deeply want him or her to understand the economic plight of those with less, and the evidence regarding the policies allegedly designed to help," he wrote last August. "To listen to McCain, and to do so while poring over his policy agenda, really does suggest the dangerous degree to which he's out-of-touch."

This is wonderful news for me to hear as a union activist and what's icing on the cake is Jared is a blogger too. Joe proves again why he was a smart, smart pick as Barack's running mate and now Vice President elect.

Nordies Rack Lunchtime Run

There's a Nordie's Rack 5 minutes from work so I regularly troll there for all things Lilly for the Elder and Younger Preppycrat Princesses. I saw no Lilly there this time and was honestly saddened to see a particular item in the racks; a pink pair of velour pants size 4t with the word 'Roxy' written across the right bum cheek. The velour look and words written across the bum are awful enough when you're an adult but the messages this sends when worn by little girls is downright scary wrong - Bratz dolls are frightening enough, actual little girls dressed like Bratz dolls unthinkable.

But here's the good news - I saw some cute Hartstrings separates for kids including this:

Price was $14.99 at my Nordies Rack. It has Elder Princess Preppycrat written all over it but alas, was not in the size I expect her to be in come next Summer.

They also had this cardi in navy blue:

Which looked a lot nicer than this green version - I just can't find the navy version on the net, drat!- but it was also not in Elder's size. I did, however want to pass this along to any of y'all who have preppy kids and want to help Santa bring them clothes for the holidays via our friends at Nordie's Rack.

Handbag Update

It arrived! My new Cole Haan bag is a bit more of a yellow green than in the pic, but will still look great with my coats and clothes. The size is roomy without being overly so as it's slim vs wide. And a nice thoughtful touch, especially with so many website hassles/delivery issues of late, and the wet weather in the DC area yesterday, was putting the cardboard box the bag came in into a plastic bag.

I'm very happy with the experience and the product!

Un-freaking-Believable

I am sorry peeps, it's an unoriginal title to an unoriginal post about someone we're probably all sick of already. And I try not to further saturate anything that's oversaturated. Really, I do.

At least it's not Sarah Palin this time, it's worse. One of our own who Should Have Known Better.

I am confused, angry, and disgusted by the hopefully soon to be ex governor of Illinois' actions. If he weren't so profane and indignant in the tape recorded conversations, I'd swear he had a death wish, or wished to take down the Democratic party. But he is profane and in your face which I guess makes him incredibly full of himself, stupid or both.

Ironic that I would have to do this now having been outside the political fray for years and even when I was in it, was only on the outskirts. But here it is, call it Preppycrat's Laws of Politics:

#1) If it looks bad it IS bad. Ask Bill Clinton about this. Monica wasn't bad in and of herself, after all the bumper sticker is right "When Clinton Lied, Nobody Died" But it sure looks bad for Democrats who want to answer the other party's charges that we lack family values.

So...if something really IS bad, you're even more burnt toast than if you did something that looked bad. What Blago did IS bad, and it's on the tape.

#2) What you say and do can taint those around you who are associated with you by geography or party affiliation. Again, Bill is a culprit here. It's widely believed that were it not for Monica, he and Al Gore might not have fallen out and maybe Gore could have won the 2000 election. Yes, I still feel it was basically stolen from him. But - here's the trillion dollar question - what if he had won by more percentage points? Maybe he would have if Bill hadn't done... well, you know. Then maybe the SCOTUS wouldn't have tried to steal the election.

Unfortunately, this might taint Barack as well. Lord knows, he's kept his distance from Blago but the problem is :

#3) Even after Sarah Palin, Republicans still generally are covered with teflon and Dems are covered in velcro. I shudder to think what the Repugs would have said if Joe Biden's daughter were having a baby with a man who she wasn't married to. Bad things just don't ever seem to stick as much to the repugs as they do to the Dems. And it's already starting, in the last 5 minutes our buddy Rush has added items that have shown up in Google news linking Barack to Blago. It's already starting and the poor man hasn't even been sworn in as President.

This is the LAST thing he needs right now. F**k you very much Blago. Orange might not be the most flattering color to dark haired men with green eyes, but you'd best get used to wearing it. For a very long time.

Merry Xmas to Me

This was completely unplanned, but sometimes the Sirens lead you to the Holy Grail not to your demise. The sirens of Cole Haan that is; first the email Siren offering 30% off of sale items, then the Free Shipping Siren, and last but not least the Sale Siren herself. Yes, good things come in threes.

I bought the bag above and think it will be a keeper - unlike many bags in this shade it's made of plain ole leather, not a patent, or an ombre, or a faux snakeskin. I think this will keep it looking good from year to year whereas had I bought a green patent bag, not so much. It's a large enough size for all of my crappe. I'm in a green groove these days because emerald is back after a few years of being impossible to find anywhere. My coloring is on the very cool side, dark brown hair and fair skin, so any green with yellow in it makes me look...green. Not stylish, not very preppy either (the point is to hold one's liquor well not the opposite). But emerald is one of my fave shades and maybe what's happening is though I swear not to buy more stuff, subconsciously I think I fear this shade will go away again for another several years.

Best of all? It was $425 originally, then marked down to $229 but thanks to the sirens, I paid a grand total of $183.71.

The code for online shopping is DECSALE30 and yes, if you want to hit the Brick n Mortar store, their sale styles are an extra 30% off too.